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SJSU ARTICULATION AGREEMENT
Lower Division Requirements
Fall 2022 - Spring 2023

BM - Music

Concentration in Composition

San José State University -to- West Valley College

Community College students should meet with a counselor as soon as possible to determine the equivalent courses offered at that institution. Students should complete as many as possible of the lower division requirements listed below, prior to transfer.

Lower Division Course Requirements

Community College Course Equivalents

All music majors must demonstrate an acceptable level of performance ability in applied area offered in the curriculum. All entering transfer students must perform an audition for the appropriate applied music committee.

Second Course in English Composition:

ENGL 002 Critical Thinking and WritingENGL 001B English Composition
   OR
ENGL 001C Clear Thinking and Writing
   OR
ENGL 001CH Honors Clear Thinking and Writing
   OR
PHIL 003 Introduction to Ethics
   OR
PHIL 017 Logic and Critical Reasoning
or
ENGL 001B Argument and AnalysisNo Current Equivalent

Note: All courses in the preparation and major core must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Also note that the MUSC 001A, 001B, 002A, 002B, 003A, 003B, 004A and 004B are courses which are subject to completion of theory placement exam.

Preparation for the Major:

MUSC 001A Music Systems IAMusc 003A Music Theory Level I
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 019 Music in World CulturesMUSC 055 World Music
Students must complete a piano proficiency requirement which may be satisfied with completion of MUSC 25A, MUSC 25B and MUSC 25C, or qualified students may test out by performing required skills for the piano faculty at SJSU.
MUSC 025A Piano Proficiency IMusc 030A Beginning Piano
MUSC 025B Piano Proficiency IIMusc 030B Beginning Piano
MUSC 025C Piano Proficiency IIIMusc 031A Intermediate Piano
   AND
Musc 031B Intermediate Piano
(MUSC 031A & MUSC 031B must be completed at same institution)

Lower Division Requirements of the Major:

MUSC 001B Music Systems IBMusc 003A Music Theory Level I
   OR
MUSC 020A Musicianship Level 1
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 002A Music Systems IIAMusc 003B Music Theory Level II
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 002B Music Systems IIBMusc 003B Music Theory Level II
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 003A Music Systems IIIAMusc 004A Music Theory Level III
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 003B Music Systems IIIBMusc 004A Music Theory Level III
   OR
MUSC 020C Musicianship Level 3
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 004A Music Systems IVAMusc 004B Music Theory Level IV
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 004B Music Systems IVBMusc 004B Music Theory Level IV
   OR
MUSC 020D Musicianship Level 4
Subject to Completion of Theory Placement Exam
MUSC 012 Medieval and Renaissance MusicMusc 001 Music History
MUSC 040A Jazz Improvisation - IMUSC 043A Techniques of Jazz Improvisation
   OR
MUSC 043B Techniques of Jazz Improvisation

Complete 8 semester units (12 quarter units) from:

MUSC 039A Jazz: Improvisation, Composition or Arranging 1No Current Equivalent
MUSC 030X Applied PianoNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 031X Harpsichord or OrganNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 033X Applied VoiceNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 034X StringsNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 035X Woodwinds 1No Current Equivalent
MUSC 036X Applied BrassNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 037X Applied PercussionNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 038X Applied Instruction in Music CompositionNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 039AX Jazz: Improvisation, Composition or Arranging 1No Current Equivalent
MUSC 030 PianoMusc 031A Intermediate Piano
   AND
Musc 031B Intermediate Piano
(Musc 031A & Musc 031B must be completed at same institution)
MUSC 033 VoiceNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 034 StringsNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 035 WoodwindsNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 036 BrassNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 037 PercussionNo Current Equivalent

Complete 4 semester units (6 quarter units) from:

MUSC 050A ENS: Concert ChoirMUSC 042 Concert Choir
MUSC 052 ENS: Opera TheaterMUSC 044A Musical Theater & Opera Scenes: Comic Opera
   OR
MUSC 044B Musical Theater & Opera Scenes: Verismo Opera
   OR
MUSC 044C Musical Theater & Opera Scenes: Mid-20th Century Musicals
   OR
MUSC 044D Musical Theater & Opera Scenes: Modern Musicals
MUSC 053 ENS: University Symphony OrchestraMUSC 048A Symphony Orchestra
MUSC 054 ENS: Symphonic BandNo Current Equivalent
MUSC 055 ENS: Wind EnsembleNo Current Equivalent


IMPORTANT TRANSFER INFORMATION:

Admission to San Jose State is competitive in all majors. SJSU continues to have more qualified applicants than available new student spaces. Because of this, SJSU is an impacted campus with impacted programs. For the most current information regarding admission impaction at SJSU please visit our website SJSU Impaction Information page.

Prior to transferring to San Jose State University all transfers must earn at least 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter), including the CSU four basic skill courses required for CSU admission eligibility (except majors which have an approved CSU GE A3 waiver). Within those 60 semester/90 quarter units, students are strongly encouraged to complete the following:

1. Lower Division Major Course Requirements (especially for STEM Majors):
Complete as many of the lower division courses required for the major as possible. Many of these courses may be double counted as part of the CSU GE-Breadth 39 semester unit requirements. The lower division major courses for this major are shown above.

2. General Education Requirements:
Complete all the CSU GE Breadth requirements at the community college (39 semester units/58 quarter units). The approved courses for each area can be found at www.assist.org under the link "CSU GE-Breadth Certification Courses" for your college. Many of these courses may be double counted to meet the major requirements shown above, so choose your courses wisely. Some SJSU majors which meet GE requirements within the majors are noted on the Major Exceptions and Modifications page in our catalog. Please see your college counselor/advisor to review your general education in order to receive FULL OR PARTIAL CERTIFICATION PRIOR TO TRANSFER to San Jose State University.

3. Second Course in English Composition highly recommended:
All students are strongly encouraged to complete a second English composition course as part of their lower division GE prior to transferring to SJSU (either to meet CSU GE Area A3 or C2) for the greatest success in passing the Writing Skills Test (WST) at SJSU. Complete this course with a grade of "C" or better prior to registering for the WST at SJSU to avoid delays in enrollment for other SJSU courses. To register for the WST contact our Testing office at: testing.sjsu.edu.

4. American Institutions Requirement (US 1, US 2, and US 3 must be completed):
This requirement is normally 2 courses and can be taken as part of your CSU GE-Breadth 39 semester unit requirements (GE Area D and sometimes Area C). The approved courses can be found at www.assist.org under the link "CSU U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals Courses" for your college.

5. Graduation Requirement - Physical Education (PE):
All undergraduate students who matriculate at SJSU are required to complete two units of physical education from Kinesiology/Dance activity courses, unless the major program has an approved PE waiver. Majors which have approved PE waivers are noted on the Major Exceptions and Modifications page in our catalog.


(page last modified: 01/19/2024)